Employee Relations: An International Journal

Adams, Roy J.

1988 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055117

On both sides of the Atlantic, there is much talk amongst academics and practitioners about the new industrial relations, based on flexibility, employee involvement, antiunion strategies and Japanese employment practices. However, the old industrial relations lives on it is concluded that where management is farsighted and unions are strong and vigilant, it has produced benefits for both parties.

Kelliher, Clare; McKenna, Steve

1988 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055118

The implications of government policy for public sector catering employees are considerable. Pay, conditions of service, hours of work, the effortbargain and staffing levels have all been altered to the general detriment of catering workers. There is now greater flexibility of working arrangements for these public sector workers, and managers find it easier to control industrial relations in this environment. Earlier results of research carried out to explore the impact of these changes are discussed and the situation assessed.

Steyger, Elies

1988 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055119

Collective labour relations within the EEC varies considerably, and it is intended here to explain the underlying attitudes to bargaining between unions and employers in the Netherlands. Forthcoming changes in collective labour law are explored, in particular, in relation to health and safety, since this will be markedly affected by new European Community regulations.

Willman, Paul; Morris, Tim

1988 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055120

Whilst there has been quite a lot of research and speculation about the ability of the unions to adapt to the changed environmental circumstances of the 1980s, there has been no consideration of the impact of such changes on the financial status and performance of trade unions. It is suggested that, contrary to popular opinion, the unions have fared reasonably well during the period of membership decline, in part because they did not benefit very much during the growth phase of the 1970s. Increased membership will not necessarily solve financial problems.

Johnnie, P.B.

1988 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055121

Having reviewed Nigeria's recent attempts at incomes policy, it is concluded that future policies need to be kept to a oneyear maximum in order to generate sufficient public support to guarantee success. Enforcement of incomes policies should also be guided strictly by the law, and guidelines should be vigorously pursued and upheld. Whether this will be achieved, however, is rather less certain.

Kirkbride, Paul S.

1988 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055122

The processes of management control in a variety of formal settings within a small engineering company are examined in this second of a series of articles. The range of arguments commonly used by workers in order to challenge managerial authority is focused on. Resistance was based around a series of legitimising principles, such as efficiency, profitability, precedent, ethics and morality. Whilst use of these arguments may influence the subsequent behaviour of management in a committee, it may not enable them to win the issue.